Disclaimer: I don't own Divergent.
I'm out of the car and racing toward the flaming school before Zeke can put the car in park. Unfortunately, I run into some guys we know from the nearby fire station who stop me. I keep fighting though.
"Look, man, my girl's in there. I've got to get her! You've got to let me go!"
"Four, as much as I'd like to help you, you've got to calm down. She may even be out already. Plus, man, no offense here, but you're a cop not a fireman, and you can't just go busting in this building." I look at him with pleading eyes. "I get it, I do. But go check with the rescue station first to find out where she is." He turns and points to a line of people and then walks away.
"Come on, no time to waste," Zeke tells me as he pulls me along to the station. Fortunately for us, we run into Marlene. "Mar, please tell us you know something about Tris!" She quickly types on her iPad before looking back at us with a smile.
"Her class is out. They are located across the street at the football field. They should all be lined up over there. Listen, I've got to get back to this line, but give Tris a hug for me, after you get done with her, Four." She winks and turns back to the line of parents asking about students.
We take off for the field, running the whole way. One of the school secretaries points us in the direction of Tris's class. As we walk up, I see her team teacher, Maggie, pacing with her phone in her hand.
"Maggie!" I call out to her and her eyes widen as she turns to me.
"F-Four, w-what are you doing here?" She asks me nervously.
"Where is she? Where's Tris? We got the call about the fire and possible threat, but where is she?" I ask her frantically.
"Four, we had two students in the restroom. She went after them once we got the others out, but she's not answering now, and I don't know where she is!" She sobs out at me. For a moment, I'm frozen, some of my worst dreams coming to fruition. Tris, my Tris, went back in the burning building for some of her students, and now no one knows where she is. I feel my world come crashing down around me and stumble backwards as Zeke steps forward to catch me.
I hear him talking to Maggie, but it's like I'm in a tunnel. I can't lose her. I can't. "Which hall did she go in? Which restroom were they in?"
"The 6th grade hall...that one," she says as she points. "Two boys. The bathroom is right down the hall from our classrooms, but that's where the fire was, and I don't know if she was able to get out!"
I feel like I'm not even in my body as Zeke shakes me and pulls me along toward the building. I shake my head to clear it and stand on my own again, quickly passing him to get to the school. When we reach the side wing, it seems to be clear of firefighters stopping us. They must have assumed this side was clear of people, but it will be my way to Tris.
I turn to Zeke before I go forward and put my hand on his chest stopping him. "No," I tell him with a firm shake of my head.
"Are you crazy?! That's my sister and I will not leave her behind!" He yells at me as I remain resolute.
"You're not leaving her behind. You're letting me get her out and keeping yourself safe for your wife and baby." I look away, feeling tears develop in my eyes. I look back to him. "Listen, if something goes down and I don't make it out but she does, tell her-tell her I love her, more than anything. And Shauna and Uriah too. And make sure you name that kid after me, okay?" I smile a little as I add the last line and pull him in for a hug. He seems to not be able to speak but turns me around and shoves me toward the door.
"Go, bring her back, and you come back too." I pat him on the shoulder before turning and entering the wing.
I pull my jacket up over my mouth and nose to protect from smoke, only pulling it down to call out for Tris. As I slowly make my way through the smoky hallway with my flashlight, I look around for any sign of people. I know I am getting close to Tris's room now, and Maggie was right, there are still fires burning, and they're growing larger. Finally, I make it to the bathroom close to her room, after checking to be sure they were not in Tris's room or storage closet.
"Tris! Boys! Are you in here?" The smoke is thick here from the still burning fire, and I sincerely hope they aren't here. I can hear the beams groaning under the pressure and heat of the fire. I check all of the stalls and can't hear them so I press on down the hall.
Suddenly, I hear something. Crying, it sounds like. Please let it be them.
"Tris! Tris, is that you? Answer me!" I shout into the fire. The smoke and fire are so thick now that I can barely see in front of me, but I try to follow the sounds. I hear a faint "help" and move toward it as quickly as I can, moving through the fire without getting burned.
Finally, I see them, just barely. They are trapped in a corner, surrounded by the encroaching flames. I see the boys sitting, but I don't see Tris. As I search the area looking for Tris, I also try to work out a way to get those boys out without burning them.
"I'm a police officer and I'm coming to get you, okay? My name is Four. Just stay still and I'll get you out. I need you to do something for me though. Take your shirt and pull it up over your nose and mouth so you can breathe better, okay boys? Do you know where Ms. Prior is?" I try to keep my tone light to calm them down because clearly they are upset, and rightfully so.
"She's here. But she's hurt. Please help her, Mister. She was trying to get us out but she's hurt."
My heart nearly stops, but at least I've found her. "Okay, guys, I'll help you. I promise I won't leave any of you, and I will definitely help Ms. Prior. Just listen to exactly what I tell you to do." I ease my way to them, and at last, I lay eyes on Tris. They are right, she does look hurt, lying on the floor. "Here's the plan guys. I'm going to lift each one of you up and over the fire so you don't get burned, okay? We will go back out together once I get Tris out. Keep your shirts up and whatever you do, don't get close to the fire. Okay, you come here buddy." I grab the first of the boys, getting as close as I can to them and carefully lift him high so he goes over the fire. I do the same with the second boy, and lead them to a spot that is more clear. "Stay here. I'm going to get her out."
I go back into the flames again, but with a determination I have never known. I take off my jacket, using it to knock back some of the flames in my path, because I have to make it all the way in to her. Keeping an eye out that the boys have listened and stayed in their area, I go into the dense smoke and flames to get Tris. As I reach her, I hear groaning and know that this wing of the school will be gone soon so I have to work quickly. I check her pulse and can tell she is still breathing, and I say a silent prayer of thanks as tears flow down my cheeks. "Tris, baby, come on, you have to wake up. Please be okay, baby, please." I only hope she can hear my pleas. As I pick her up bridal style, I check back on the boys once again, and the fire seems to be closing in on us as the ceiling once again groans. I have to hurry.
Quickly working out the path to safety, I make it out with Tris and back to the boys. "Okay, guys, you have to be my helpers now. We've got to get Ms. Prior out so that she's safe, and I need to get you boys checked out too. Stay right ahead of me and I will get you out." A load groan from the ceiling interrupts us and the flames seem to be growing where they were hiding out earlier. "We've got to move fast, so let's go."
We begin running out of the area, barely making it out of the hallway before pieces of the ceiling fall down, closing off the entrance to the wing. We fly through the smoke-filled hallways then, and finally emerge to fresh air. The clean air floods our lungs, making us all cough. I spot Zeke running with a paramedic toward us, and I grab the boys and run to meet them, placing Tris carefully down on a gurney. I hold her hand as tears fall from my eyes. Zeke gets both boys and leads them to another paramedic.
"Please baby, please, don't leave me. I can't take it if you do. Please." I lower my head down to her hand as medics get oxygen on her and take her vitals. They tap me on the shoulder and hand me a mask as well, but I try to refuse. "No, just take care of her. I can't lose her."
"You won't be any good to her when she wakes up if you don't. You inhaled a great deal of smoke, so you could use some O2." I nod my head weakly, still holding tightly to her hand. "Sir, we've got to go with her."
"Then I'm going with her."
"No, it's family only. I'm sorry, but we've got to get her to the hospital to completely assess the damage. She also has some burns that need to be treated."
"Family? You think I'm not family? She means more to me than anyone else in the world, and I will not lose her. So I'm sorry, but your rules are shit, and I'd like to see you fucking try to take her away without me," I tell them in a low voice, conscious of all the kids around us, but wanting them to know just how serious the situation is.
The paramedic nods toward the ambulance. "Guess I can't help it if you are in there getting help too on the way, right?" I mutter a thanks and take off toward the ambulance with him and Tris.
Holding tight to Tris the whole way to the hospital, I never stop praying for her to be okay. Flashbacks keep popping into my head of Lauren with no pulse, dead in my arms. I have to shake my head and wipe my eyes to clear away the memories. This is here and now. Tris is still here right now. She's not gone. She won't leave me.
Just before we reach the hospital, her eyelids flutter and she begins to try to talk. I choke on my sobs, bending down to kiss her hand as I break down. I move up to put my forehead on hers, looking in her eyes. "I love you baby, so much. You're gonna be just fine now." I continue whispering to her the rest of the way to the hospital.
As they are unloading her, she tries to speak but I shush her, not wanting her to use her strength. She's stubborn though, and talks anyway. Typical Tris. "I-I love you, T-Tobias…" She trails off and the paramedic turns abruptly, and begins taking her vitals again. Suddenly, they are running with her, one of them on the gurney with her, delivering CPR while the other steers through the door to the ER. I chase behind them, only to be stopped by security in the hallway.
They're taking my whole heart down that hall with them.
I hit my knees in the hallway, sobbing, not caring who sees me or what they think, because at this point, I will do whatever bargaining is necessary for God to keep my precious Tris here on earth.
Thank goodness for a break from school! I'm so grateful for all the support you all have shown for this story. I have started the next chapter so hopefully it will be out soon as well. Hope you all have a great holiday this week!